Identification and meaning requested for this 1794 British(?) Token

IloiloKano

A friend of mine has this token, and I am not completely certain of the (presumably politcal) symbology.

Since Great Britain claimed the French crown at or near the date of 1794, I presume the image of a foot over the word HONOR was meant to slam the French as trampling on honor.

On the reverse to the left is the word RELIGION with the word laid out crookedly, presumably as a slam on the Catholic Church as a crooked or corrupt religion, (as opposed to the Anglican Church, of course).

Above the upside down word throne is the name FRANCE, though it is hyphenated as FRA-NCE, and though I presume 'throne' being upside down is an inditement of the French Monarchy, as having falsely taken the throne from Great Britain, I cannot see a reason to hyphenate France.

In each corner is the word FIRF, and I haven't a clue as to the meaning, reason or rational for that.

Adding to all of the above symbolgy, the border of the reverse around the described design has the words A MAP OF FRANCE 1794, and the obverse reads, MAY GREAT BRITAIN EVER REMAIN THE REVERSE.

This is a most unusual coin, and though I doubt it has much value, especially due to it being well banged up, I'd like to be able to tell its owner more about what he has. I am including images for assessment, with one in negative in order to bring out details. I would appreciate comments from anyone who might have more knowledge of this item. Thanks to all in advance.

Blackhawk

Take a look at this link.

lordmarcovan

Wow, what a fascinating piece.

Thanks for the link, Bill. I was stumped.

Speaking of that site you linked to, whatever happened to ol' Vern? I haven't seen him around here in forever.

farthing

Your token is catalogued by Dalton & Hamer as Middlesex 1016 - as is the one blackhawk linked to. A slightly different reverse (the size of the letters) is catalogued as #1017.

There are 7 different edge varieties to #1016 as follows:
1016 - CURRENT EVERY WHERE (Rare)
1016a - PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF THOMAS CLARKE (Very Rare)
1016b - RICHARD BACON C**KEY LANE (Extremely Rare)
1016c - PAYABLE AT CHARLES HEATHS BAY MAKER COLChESTER (Very Rare)
1016d - Engrailed
1016e - Milled \\
1016f - Plain (Not in collar)

IloiloKano

I expected such knowlegeable replies from people on this site. Thank you all. I have only two mysteries remaining, which are:

Why is France hyphenated, andWhat is the meaning of FIRF? (It is not the word FIRE as stated in one of the supplied links)

If this coin ever had anything but a plain edge, all of it has been lost due to extensive edge damage, so I expect it is a common variety. Even so, it is surely a conversation piece for my friend, and now there is a great deal more for him to say.

satootoko

<< <i>What is the meaning of FIRF? >>

According to http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com it is an acronym for Finite Impulse Response Filter.

I leave it up to you to figure out what the heck that is, and how the token maker knew such a thing would come into existence.

farthing

The word should correctly be FIRE not FIRF (Fire in all corners) according to all the documentation I have though it also appears as FIRF in the link provided. Good question - I will need to look at more examples when I get home. The decorative border may have affected the E, making it appear as an F, or the F used because there was no room for the lower leg of the E.

France is broken apart due to the revolution.

IloiloKano

I believe you are likely correct that an F was used for the E, since the dagger appears to form the lower part of the E, and since otherwise an E would lack space for the lower part of the letter. Also, "Fire in all corners (of France)" would be an apt piece of propaganda, befitting the rest of the symbolism. Thank you.

farthing

Looking at the scans of high grade examples of a number of the varieties of this token that Dr. Gary Sriro sells on CD it does appear that the letter is an E. It is not always clear on each of the 4 words on each example - many do appear as an F. However, his CD does include a scan of 1016e which clearly has FIRE in all 4 corners.

Chumondley

I have one of these, the edge is marked clearly with payable at, but looks like cloxxxxx
Or glouxxxx
Anyone know which variant this might be? Thanks

Bailathacl

Welcome to the forum @Chumondley!

Although I can’t help out further on your question, hopefully someone else can do so. But I wanted to applaud you for reviving an interesting if crusty-old thread.

John Conduitt

1017 (the next token along in D&H but with smaller lettering) has these edges:
1017: CURRENT EVERY WHERE
1017a: PAYABLE AT CLOUGHER OR IN DUBLIN
1017b: PAYABLE AT J. JORDAN'S DRAPER GOSPORT
1017c: PAYABLE IN LONDON BRISTOL & LANCASTER
1017d: RICHARD DUNMORE & SON NORWICH
1017e: Engrailed
1017f: Plain (not in collar).

Sapyx

As this venerable thread now doesn't actually have any pictures of this token, I'm going to post a Numista link:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces88233.html

Numista gives the standard interpretation of the imagery as:
- 'Honor' trodden underfoot;
- the 'throne' turned upside down
- The nation - 'FRA-NCE' - divided;
- 'RE|LI|GI|ON' cut in pieces (the Revolutionaries confiscated and sold off Church land to help fund their war);
- 'GLORY' (with hashing all over it) defaced,
- 'FIRE' in each corner (and it is "FIRE"; the ones that look like "FIRF" they simply ran out of room and the bottom of the E was truncated)
- murder (symbolized by daggers) on every side
- bloodshed all over (I would assume represented by the random blobs that look like die rust).

It seems quite arcane to our modern eyes but someone immersed in 18th century culture and who would have been used to interpreting the complicated political cartoons of the day, would have had no trouble correctly interpreting most of this.

Chumondley

Thanks all